Runes (Celtic runes) are an alphabetic script used by the peoples of Northern
Europe from the first century c.e. until well into the Middle Ages. In
addition to their use as a written alphabet, the runes also served as a
system of symbols used for magic and divination. Runes fell into disuse
as the Roman alphabets became the preferred script of most of Europe,
but their forms and meanings were preserved in inscriptions and
manuscripts.

Older than the New Testament, the Runes have lain fallow for more
than 400 years. The Runes were last in current use in Iceland during the
Middle Ages. The wisdom of the Rune Masters died with them. Little
remains but the standing Rune stones, the sagas, the far-flung fragments
of runic lore, and the 24 Runes themselves.

The influence of the Runes on their time is incontestable. When the
high chieftains and wise counselors of Anglo-Saxon England met in
conclave, they called their secret deliberations "Ruenes". When Bisop
Wulfila made his translation of the Bible into fourth century Gothic, he
rendered St. Mark's "the mystery of the kingdom of God" using "runa" for
"mystery.

Eight centuries earlier, when Greek historian Herodotus traveled
around the Black Sea, he encountered descendants of Scythian tribesmen
who crawled under blankets, smoked themselves into a stupor, and cast
marked sticks in the air and "read" them when they fell. These sticks
were used as Rune sticks.

There is no firm agreeement among scholars as to where and when runic
writing first made its appearance in Western Europe. Before Germanic
peoples possessed any form of script, they used pictorial symbols that
they scratched onto rocks.

Especially common in Sweden, these prehistoric rock carvings, are
dated back to 1300BC and were probably linked to Indo- European
fertility and sun cults.

The practice of divination (sortilege) was cultivated among Northern
Italic as well as Germanic peoples, one using letters the other symbols.
Numerous runic standing stones can be seen in the British Isles, in
Germany and throughout Scandinavia.

From the beginning Runes took on a ritualistic meaning, serving for
the casting of lots, for divination, and to evoke higher powers that
could influence the lives and fortunes of the people. The craft of
"runemal" touched every aspect of life, from the most sacred to the most
practical. There were Runes and spells to influence the weather, the
tides, crops, love, healing, fertility, cursing and removing curses,
birth and death.

Runes were carved on amulets, drinking cups, battle spears, over the
lintels of dwellings and onto the prows of Viking ships.

The Rune castors of the Teutons and Vikings wore startling garb that
made them easily recognizable. Honored, welcomed and feared these
shamans were familiar figures in tribal circles. There is evidence that
a fair number of runic practitioners were women.

Runic symbols have been carved into pieces of hardwood, incised on
metal or cut into leather that was then stained with pigment.

The most common Runes were smooth flat stones or pebbles with symbols
or glyths painted on one side. The practicioner would keep them in a
pouch, shake them and scatter the pebbles on the ground. Those falling
with glyphs upward were then interpreted.

Bt 100 AD the Runes were already becoming widely known on the
European Continent. They were carried from place to place by traders,
adventurers, and warriors, and eventually by Anglo-Saxon missionaries.

For this dispersion to occur a common alphabet was required, the
alphabet that became known as "futhark" after after its first 6 letters.

Although later Anglo-Saxon alphabets expanded to include as many as
33 letters in Britian, the traditional Germanic futhark is comprised of
24 Runes. These were divided into 3 families of 8 Runes each, 3 and 8
being numbers credited with special potency. The 3 groups, known as
"aettir" were named for the Norse Gods "Freyr" "Hagal" and "Tyr.

RUNES ALPHABET

As with most oracles of divination - Runes mean different things
if held 'straight up' and mean the opposite if held in the 'reverse'.

Vercingetorix, 20/05:WARNING: To anyone reading this page, please be aware this is pure fantasy. I am an ancient historian and have numerous publications in this very field and not a single thing described here has ANY basis in reality. Sadly this is common when it comes to ancient civilisations, or anything to do with the 'celts' (a term most often attributed to people who weren't even celts) where people use google to do their research and copy paste things without wondering "How did they find this out?" or seeking an empirical source.
Please disregard everything you read on this website, it is absolutely fictitious.

Tasha, 13/05:My 12 yr old daughter has been drawing "runes" and since her 12 birthday her whole demeanor has changed. What do I do?

Woden, 24/06:Celtic runes have been defunked and a blank rune does not even appear in any futhark.

Titter gtraci, 29/05:i found a stone that appears to be from another time; there is a carving on the stone of a lady' which I found oout from reading a book titled, "ANCIENT CIVILIZATION", that the lady I see carved in this stone I have, is perhaps one from A tribe called the Minoan people and this lady is perhaps like A Snake Priestiest or something to that affect, but anyway I am puzzled about this stone that I found and would be very greatful if someeone could direct me in the right direction in finding out what it is exactly thatI have in my possession

no-name42, 27/09: sertan english leters can reprasent sevarul sonds eg "u" makes one sond in "up" but a diferant sound in "push". perhaps you shuld have a more indepth dikription of the sound the runes reprusent, espeshaly the voules. maby point out if the voles folow the rules of roninised cariters or english careters
p.s. keep up the good werk
. i like this part of this site it's imformatif and looks credabal. there are however sum inconsitances with other resorse, runes drown slitly defrentlee this leids me to ashume. these runes very from cultur to cultur, difrent clans and stuff. or mabey ther are sevarul ways to write the same rune.